Musings of a Designer on Jewelry, Crochet, Crochet Patterns, Knitting, Running a Crafty Business, Movie Costumes, Books, Art, Design, Steampunk & the Geek Girl Life

Monday, May 19, 2008

Puttering Around the House

From freak hail storms that came magically come out of thin air about two weeks ago, we've suddenly snapped into 95 degree weather!!! Whoa! With the extreme heat and longer light at night, we've been cooking dinner much later and eating out on the patio long after the sun has set. Well, talented gourmet chef hubby has been cooking :) As most people know, I'm cooking challenged unless it's sugary baked goods :) Here's a recipe he created!Hot Ginger Soba Noodles
3 carrots
3 yellow squash
3 zucchini
6-8 spring onions
1 bag pea pods (about 4 cups)
1 white onion
9 oz. organic soba nooodles (we use Hakubaku noodles from Japan)
4 grated or very finely chopped tablespoons ginger (hubby didn't measure - but he thinks about 4 grated tablespoons - it's enough when you can smell ginger in the air when frying)
soy sauce

Chop all vegetables except pea pods. Stir fry vegetables and ginger until soft. Boil soba noodles for 3 minutes. Add well-strained boiled noodles straight to stir fry pan. Stir in soy sauce to taste. Serve hot.


While I was watching him cook, I was reflecting on our last lonely Happy Kitty bowl. We had bought two several years ago but one broke and the remaining kitty just hasn't seemed as happy since that day.
The inside of a Happy Kitty bowl. Isn't it cute?? I love Japanese contemporary pottery design!

So, thoughts of the Happy Kitty bowl were fresh in my mind when I went shopping in downtown Portland. And look what I found at the store Three Monkeys!!! It was a little bigger and a lot more expensive, but yes, it definitely was ... a Happy Kitty bowl!! Now what are the odds of that??? Of course I had to get it and the lone Happy Kitty is now happy again with it's sister bowl :)

The back of a Happy Kitty bowl.


Puttering around the house, I also realized that it was finally time to paint. Our children were young Monet's and expressed themselves on the walls but now that they are beyond that phase it's time! I have spent many years pondering and plastering paint chips to the walls in anticipation of this moment and I've finally settled on the color. The new color will be .... pumpkin!! I just got the new Martha Stewart magazine and a dyed paper lamp like this would look *fabulous* with my soon-to-be pumpkin walls!
Photo from Martha Stewart.

So, the family will be painting this week and maybe next week too! We've never painted walls before so wish us luck and an aesthetically pleasing finished product! Next blog post when we are done :) Can't wait to show you the cool new jewelry lines I've been working on!!!

28 comments:

kari and kijsa said...

That bowl is so sweet!

Have a blessed and wonderful day!

smiles, kari & kijsa

Sugar Bear said...

I love the happy kitty bowls! They are darling.
Karla

Waterrose said...

How "fortunate" you were to find happy kitty bowls! That color is lovely and soothing. And the lantern is perfect --can't wait to see your results.

Betty said...

I want a hubby who cooks for me! Yummy! I guess I'll keep mine though cuz he does clean up.
I can't wait to see the pumpkin walls. I had light pumpkin walls in the first house I ever bought and I loved them.

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

What cute kitties!

Here is my favorite painting tip, because I am messy. I paint barefoot, in case paint drips on the drop cloth (which is what they are for!). Then, you feel it when you step in it and don't track it OFF the drop cloth.

Have fun painting!

Anonymous said...

Yum! Your husbands soba noodles in Happy Kitty bowls! Can I come to the party!
Thanks for your comment Jeweled! Means a lot!
xo
Constance

Anonymous said...

Hello! oh, good luck with the paint. I get "angst" just thinking about choosing a color!!
D.
PS Thanks for the visit!

Jen said...

The Happy Kitty bowls are darling! How sweet!

Painting...I got 3/4 of our bedroom done this weekend (considering how gigantic it is, that's pretty impressive...since I didn't want to move the furniture). It's a rather pumpkin-ish colour, too - Sherwin-Williams Honeybush or Honeyblush, IIRC. The colour right above it on the paint chip is going on the ceiling (white is just too stark for such a warm colour).

Have fun painting! I love painting.

Sandy said...

Pumpkin sounds perfect for your jewel toned palette! I am so glad you dropped by and yes I too see a book in your future! If it is a beautiful bejeweled one, my famous ring will be perfect for the cover shot ;) I am working on one of my grandson and one that is a family history to give as gifts and it is fun! Happy painting!

Lori said...

those kitty bowls are SO cute:) and mmm mmm mmm that recipe sounds so yummy, i really love yellow squash and zucchini!

Anonymous said...

Those bowls are so adorable! . and wow pumpkin! I look forward to seeing it and your new jewellery!

Rosie's Whimsy said...

I love the pumpkin color! Can't wait to see the finished room!

:-) Rosie

AscenderRisesAbove said...

what sweet little bowls. my daughter would love those


ascenderrisesabove.com/wordpress

NeereAnDear said...

That recipe looks yummy!

Those bowls are darling... glad your little one is no longer lonely

And I can not wait to see the walls when you are finished.... a lovely color from what i can see

CIAO

JO

Anonymous said...

That sounds like the best hubby ever! Does he also spotlessly clean up the kitchen every day? I bet he does and that he takes out the trash and fills the car with gas regularly and without complaint.

Lola Enchanted said...

looks yummy! I love the kitty bowls!!!~

Gracie said...

Yum that looks good! I love those bowls as well. They're so cute.

I can't wait to see the new painted walls. The colour sounds fabulous! And that Martha Steward pic is very inspiring.

Looking forward to seeing your new jewellery line as well. Ohh and I wish I could get taught to knit and crochet by you. That would be awesome! I will try though =)

Thanks also for your thoughts on what to do in a slump. I'm not really in one right now. Beautiful day here too =)

Mary Timme said...

The happy kitty bowls are too lucious for words. I like the paint color and that is saying something as I usually don't care for Martha Stewart things and choices. I think it will look super.

Crystal said...

yum! and what a pretty lamp shade! I've missed you! Its been a rough couple of weeks around here but I am back in the swing of things! I have alot of catching up to do with you ;)...I'm off to read!

Felicia said...

Those kitty bowls are delightful :)

Anonymous said...

Heather.....those bowls are so cute!!! I can't believe you guys got up to 100 degrees! We didn't even get that hot....like around 90coastal temp.... Can't wait to see your new paint job! I still need to finish mine.....

Anonymous said...

Anonymous is me.... :)

Monica said...

Never painted a wall? Tape well, have wet rags handy, and make W's. Good luck! Can't wait to see the finished product.

KV said...

The bowls are adorable and you will love having pumpkin walls! I paint in an old pair of socks for the very same reason karlascottage paints in bare feet. Hmmm, now that I think of it a few of our rooms could use a new coat of paint soon!


Kathy V in NM

Natasha Burns said...

I'm so impressed with your hubby's cooking prowess!!!

Paul Sears said...

wow - thanks for the recipe! Looks delicious!

Jessica said...

Those soba noodles sound so yummy. Oishii desu! I have some very similar kitty bowls, but in pink! Great minds think alike ;)

eatme_delicious said...

Ooo that looks good. The bowls are really cute!